Study Desk

Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord,⁽ⁿ⁾ we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance^[d] rather than in the heart.

For if we are out of our mind,^(o) it is for God; if we have a sound mind,^(p) it is for you.

For Christ's love compels^[e] us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all,^(q) then all died.

And He died for all^(r) so that those who live should no longer live for themselves,^(s) but for the One^(t) who died for them and was raised.

From now on, then, we do not know^[f] anyone in a purely human way.^[g] Even if we have known^[h] Christ in a purely human way,^[i] yet now we no longer know^[j] Him in this way.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;^(u) old things have passed away, and look,^(v) new things^[k] have come.^(w)

Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:^(x)

That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world^(y) to Himself,^(z) not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

Therefore, we are ambassadors^(aa) for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf,^(ab) "Be reconciled to God."

He made the One who did not know sin^(ac) to be sin^[l] for us,^(ad) so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Working together^[a] with Him, we also appeal to you, "Don't receive God's grace in vain."

For He says: I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation. ^(a)[b] Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.^(b)

We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

But as God's ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardship, by difficulties,

by beatings, by imprisonments,^(c) by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,

by purity,^(d) by knowledge,^(e) by patience,^(f) by kindness,^(g) by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,^(h)

by the message of truth,⁽ⁱ⁾ by the power of God;^(j) through weapons of righteousness on the right hand and the left,

through glory^(k) and dishonor, through slander and good report; as deceivers yet true;

as unknown yet recognized; as dying and look—we live; as being disciplined yet not killed;

as grieving yet always rejoicing;^(l) as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.

We have spoken openly^[c] to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide.

You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.

I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.